Brown, Spinello Lead Highland Park at State Meet

The 20-year Highland Park boys gymnastics coach Doug Foerch knew his Highland Park-Deerfield squad had some talent, but he did not expect the team to make it to the state meet last weekend at Lincoln-Way.

Led by seniors Robbie Brown and Mikey Spinello, this collaboration of gymnasts placed sixth in the state with a score of 149.90.

"Just to make it to the state was huge," Foerch said. "Placing sixth was something we didn't consider."

Those athletes from Deerfield and Highland Park came together to form a  this spring, and made a strong impression downstate Friday and Saturday at Lincoln-Way East High School.

According to Foerch, the team's success surprised the competing schools, especially since Foerch has built it with students that he says are unknown across the state. He cites Spinello as an example.

"He was a hockey goalie for years and years,'' the coach said. "Then he started diving for me. He was a two-time state qualifier."

Brown has a similar story. Though Foerch said he "came in with very limited experience" freshman year, he was at the top of his game at the state meet, placing second on parallel bars (9.4).

"His routine is extremely clean,'' Foerch said. "He doesn't break form."

Brown also checked in with a 9.1 on pommel horse, good for sixth place.

Spinello helped this team with a pair of eighth-place showings in the parallel bars (9.0) and floor exercise (9.35).

The co-op combines 25 Deerfield gymnasts and 20 from Highland Park, a mix Foerch says has performed well.

"We had a very good season,'' he said. "We won the conference and were second at the sectional."

With the state meet a good 60 miles away, the squad stayed overnight before its members competed Saturday.

"It was really a downstate trip,'' the coach said. "It was a very long drive home in the rain and construction."

On the ride home, Foerch checked on how the gymnasts from the two schools were doing.

"They were all great friends,'' he said.

Also helping the team this year: Lucas Beslow, Sam Gettleman, Scott Pieri, Quaid Rosenberg, Jonah Ruffer, Cody Shepard, Doran and Spencer Zimmerman.